[Vision2020] Daily News OUR VIEW: UI's disdain for citizens who fund it is appalling

Mon Aug 16 11:53:51 PDT 2010

Hi Wayne,

I agree that Mues isn't the only culprit, but I'm more familiar with his
mindset than I am with that of others since I've actually spoken to Mues in
person.  I provided him with information straight from the UI about the
steep decrease in UI payments for retiree health costs.  His response was
that the info we'd received "had" to be wrong and that he'd check into it
and provide us with the "correct" information.  Almost a year later, I'm
still waiting.  The only conclusion I can draw from that is the data
received directly from the UI was, in fact, accurate, and the UI's claim
about retiree health care costs being responsible for the shockingly
escalating employee premiums (particularly for employees with families) for
reduced coverage was a load of crapola.

During the same meeting, Mues also informed me that he was responsible for
telling the BAG (Benefits Advisory Group) not to take meeting minutes - he
stated minutes had been kept prior to his tenure.  This was during the same
time the UI was trying to extort $100 from me (at $25/hour) to "locate" what
were non-existent records and another $50 (1000 pages at $0.05 per page) to
copy those same non-existent records.

I will add, however, that Rose Huskey & I attempted to bring our concerns to
Dr. Nellis' attention shortly after he arrived.  Clearly, he was
uninterested in Mues' history of thwarting transparency and accountability
then, and he is apparently uninterested now.

Inquiring minds want to know why over the past few years the UI has
accumulated quite the record of contracting with non-local right wing whack
jobs that always wind up soaking the UI, UI employees, and the taxpayers for
far more than expected rather than with local entities (i.e., MPD) and
companies (i.e., Regence BSI) where there might be some genuine
accountability and interest in providing quality service for a fair cost.

Saundra Lund

Moscow, ID

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.

~ Edmund Burke

***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2010 through life plus
70 years, Saundra Lund.  Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or reproduce outside
the Vision 2020 forum without the express written permission of the
author.*****

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Art Deco
Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 10:18 AM
To: Vision 2020
Cc: lrozen at dnews.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Daily News OUR VIEW: UI's disdain for citizens
whofund it is appalling

I agree that the whole process that evolved here was/is inappropriate for a
public institution for which transparency, fiscal responsibility, and
accountability is more than just a reasonable expectation.  

The process was wrong and it has led to an decision that is clearly wrong
for a number of reasons.

However, Mues is not the only culprit.

Based on materials and other information made available to me, I agree that
Mues is severely under qualified for the position which he now occupies.
Not only that but it appears that his original hire was prompted more by
some external pressures than by his qualifications, meager as they are;  it
seems that elevating him to and establishing him in his present position was
former UI President White's way of giving a final finger to the UI on his
way out.

However, the total fault doesn't not rest alone with Mues.

Where is present UI's president's oversight?  Did he not understand the
financial, community relations/economy, and efficacy of the results of this
decision?  How could this proposal even get to the SBOE in the first place?

And to the SBOE:  If you do not want to take the time and effort to
scrutinize decisions very carefully, the get the hell off the board and let
some more conscientious take your place.

Wayne A. Fox
1009 Karen Lane
PO Box 9421
Moscow, ID  83843

waf at moscow.com
208 882-7975

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Saundra Lund <mailto:v2020 at ssl.fastmail.fm>  

To: vision2020 at moscow.com 

Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 8:52 AM

Subject: [Vision2020] Daily News OUR VIEW: UI's disdain for citizens whofund
it is appalling

Many thanks to the friend who sent this to me!

I think this editorial hits the nail squarely on the head:  Mues is not only
utterly unqualified for his position at the UI, he is also fundamentally
unsuited to work for a public institution where public accountability &
transparency are crucial.  This is just the most recent in a string of
sneaky decisions that track back to him where those outside of the
administration are kept in the dark before -- after decisions -- are made.
I can just see Mues sitting behind his desk at the UI rubbing his hands
together in glee at the coup of keeping the whole AlliedBarton issue secret
until it was too late for anyone to have any effective input.

I agree with the editorial that while this kind of crapola is suitable at a
private college, it is wholly inappropriate at a public institution where
even UI's top administrators are accountable to those who pay their
salaries, and that would be we-the-taxpayers.

Further, there's something grossly obscene about the UI's decision to pay a
private security contractor nearly $400K during these tough financial times
where student fees were just jacked up 9.5%, programs have been cut into the
bone, severe understaffing of all but the top level of administration is
rampant, and all faculty & staff but those making less than a living wage in
Idaho - a paltry $22,360 - were forced to take a very real pay cut in the
form of mandatory furloughs.

Saundra Lund

Moscow, ID

The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak out for
themselves.

~ Jane Goodall

-----------------------------------

OUR VIEW: UI's disdain for citizens who fund it is appalling

Posted on: Monday, August 16, 2010

We apparently are too stupid to consider properly how the University of
Idaho plans to spend our money. 

The university is trying to upgrade its security services, and it turns out
that is going to cost a lot more money, some $300,000 more, than it took
last year when it was all handled by the Moscow Police Department. 

What is the necessity for that upgrade? What dire risks are facing our local
institution of higher learning to require this substantial increase in
spending of public tax dollars. It must be pretty important, considering the
budget-cutting going on throughout government, including our colleges and
universities.

When Daily News reporter Holly Bowen asked that question Tuesday, before the
increase had been approved, she was told the UI was "not making anyone
available." There would be no comment on this big increase in state spending
until after Thursday's meeting of the Idaho State Board of Education where
the proposal was to be considered, approved and funded. 

After that meeting - where the proposal was indeed approved - Lloyd Mues, UI
vice president for finance and administration, explained pompously and
vacuously, "The absolute best thing we can do in a process like this, as
with any of them, is all of that negotiation and all of that communication
is pretty private." 

Gee, Mr. Mues, we thought the UI was pretty public, actually. There are many
pretty private colleges around here, but not the UI.

But what about those serious security threats we have to pay $300,000 a year
to stop? 

Mues again: "Every now and then, someone will decide they want to drive
across the Administration Building lawn in a four-wheel drive." He
apparently was perfectly serious.

So, will a heavily armed vehicular deterrence team be roaming campus?

No, it turns out this expenditure will pay for one to three unarmed security
guards to roam campus on foot around the clock. 

It's no wonder the university didn't want the press or taxpayers asking
serious questions about this proposal before it was approved. 

- Lee Rozen, for the editorial board

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